Ben Lucien Burman (December 12, 1895 – November 12, 1984) was an American author and journalist born in

Covington, Kentucky Covington is a list of cities in Kentucky, home rule-class city in Kenton County, Kentucky, United States. It is located at the confluence of the Ohio River, Ohio and Licking River (Kentucky), Licking rivers, across from Cincinnati to the north ...

. He also fought in both

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

and

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, and graduated from

Harvard University Harvard University is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. Founded in 1636 and named for its first benefactor, the History of the Puritans in North America, Puritan clergyma ...

. He was married to Alice Caddy who illustrated many of his children's books, including his most popular books, the ''Catfish Bend'' series, which became popular with both children and adults. The series, set in Catfish Bend,

Mississippi Mississippi ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Southeastern United States, Southeastern and Deep South regions of the United States. It borders Tennessee to the north, Alabama to the east, the Gulf of Mexico to the south, Louisiana to the s ...

, tells a tale of the many animal residents of Catfish Bend. It was published in eleven languages. Burman died from a

stroke Stroke is a medical condition in which poor cerebral circulation, blood flow to a part of the brain causes cell death. There are two main types of stroke: brain ischemia, ischemic, due to lack of blood flow, and intracranial hemorrhage, hemor ...

at the age of 88.

Bibliography

*''Mississippi'', illustrated by wife, Alice Caddy, 1929 ** adapted to film as '' Heaven on Earth'' in 1931, directed by

Russell Mack Russell Mack (November 11, 1892 – June 1, 1972) was an American vaudeville performer in the 1910s and a stage actor, film director, and producer in the 1920s and 1930s. Vaudeville and stage career Born Edward Russell Mahoney in Oneonta, New ...

*''Then There's Cripple Creek'', 1930 *''Steamboat 'round the Bend'', illustrated by Caddy, 1933 ** adapted to film as ''

Steamboat Round the Bend ''Steamboat Round the Bend'' is a 1935 American comedy film directed by John Ford, released by 20th Century Fox and produced by Fox Film Corporation, based on the 1933 novel of the same name by author Ben Lucien Burman. It was the final film ma ...

'' in 1935, directed by

John Ford John Martin Feeney (February 1, 1894 – August 31, 1973), better known as John Ford, was an American film director and producer. He is regarded as one of the most important and influential filmmakers during the Golden Age of Hollywood, and w ...

*''Blow for a Landing'', 1938 *''Big River to Cross: Mississippi Life Today'', illustrated by Caddy, 1940 *''Miracle on the Congo: Report from the Free French Front'', 1942 *''Rooster Crows for Day'', illustrated by Caddy, 1945 *''Everywhere I Roam'', illustrated by Caddy, 1949 *''Children of Noah: Glimpses of Unknown America'', illustrated by Caddy, 1951 *''The Four Lives of Mundy Tolliver'', 1953 *''It's a Big Country: America off the Highways'', illustrated by Caddy, 1956 *''The Street of the Laughing Camel'', illustrated by Caddy, 1959 *''It's a Big Continent'', illustrated by Caddy, 1961 *''The Generals Wear Cork Hats: An Amazing Adventure That Made World History'', illustrated by Caddy, 1963 *''The Sign of the Praying Tiger'', illustrated by Caddy, 1966 *''Look Down That Winding River: An Informal Profile of the Mississippi'', illustrated by Caddy, 1973 *''High Water at Catfish Bend'', 1952, reprinted, 1981 *''Seven Stars for Catfish Bend'', 1956, reprinted, 1981 *''The Owl Hoots Twice at Catfish Bend'', 1961, reprinted, 1981 *''Blow a Wild Bugle for Catfish Bend'', 1967 *''High Treason at Catfish Bend'', 1977 *''The Strange Invasion of Catfish Bend'', 1980 *''Thunderbolt at Catfish Bend'', 1984

Cancelled Disney Film

In the late 1970s,

Disney The Walt Disney Company, commonly referred to as simply Disney, is an American multinational mass media and entertainment industry, entertainment conglomerate (company), conglomerate headquartered at the Walt Disney Studios (Burbank), Walt Di ...

greenlit an animated film adaptation of Burman's ''Catfish Bend'' stories with Ken Anderson heading the project. Despite making a large amount of progress and scheduling a 1981 release date, the film was eventually shelved.

Discography

*''Steamboat 'Round the Bend: Songs & Stories of the Mississippi'', 1956,

Folkways Records Folkways Records was a record label founded by Moses Asch that documented folk, world, and children's music. It was acquired by the Smithsonian Institution in 1987 and is now part of Smithsonian Folkways. History The Folkways Records & Service ...

References

Sources

''The New York Times''
{{DEFAULTSORT:Burman, Ben Lucien American children's writers Writers from Kentucky Harvard University alumni 1895 births 1984 deaths